ERIK ACTION - Upgrading the Innovation Capacity of Existing Firms

in collaboration with Interreg IVC and European Union

Events

Training sessions

Study Visits
Conferences

Study Visits

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Flanders - Parenthood Projects - 16^th /17^th February 2009

The Flanders Parenthood Projects facilitate the meeting of enterprise directors under the leadership of a mentor, who are experienced entrepreneurs or staff members of other companies. During the meetings participants exchange experience on business conduct and management. The central aim of this exchange is to increase the level of professional development and innovation of the participating companies.

The study visit began at Hasselt regional (industrial oriented) Chamber of Commerce (VOKA). The meeting included a presentation of mentoring activities and a meeting with 3 entrepreneurs who participate in a mentoring group on innovation.

On the second day, the meeting was held in the regional (craftsmen oriented) Chamber of Commerce (UNIZO), and involved a meeting with 4 Mentors who have a long experience in different mentoring projects. This was followed by a presentation of UNIZO and their different coaching projects, a meeting with an innovation coach and a with coaching project participant.

Tuscany - PRAI VINCI / Fabrica Ethica, 26^th / 27^th March 2009

PRAI VINCI Study Visit - Virtual Enterprises in the Nautical Sector

This study visit provided partners with a concrete view of what innovative cooperation process can do for regional enterprises. Partners visited the sites of one of the projects funded by PRAI VINCI: e-nautica - nautical service and supply chain.

E-nautica developed a virtual enterprise to cover supply chain and client ICT needs in the nautical logistics sector. The alliance between the E-nautica partnership, Cantiere Azimut Benetti and Porto Turistico Cala de Medici shows the benefits of experimenting with innovation and new technology (ICT) in a traditional field, such as the nautical sector.

Fabrica Ethica Study Visit - Special Project in the Leather Centre / SA8000 Certification

For the partners interested in Corporate Social Responsibility, a visit was organised to Consorzio 100% Italiano on Day 1. This consortium is in charge of the FELAFIP project (Industrial system and territory for integrated ethical quality - Ethical Workshop for the Leather Industry).

Given the vital importance of the fashion sector in Tuscany, the project was conceived to give new qualification to enterprises by means of an integrated certification that covers the entire production system, according to SA8000 (CSR), ISO9001 (quality) and ISO14001 (environment) standards.

On Day 2 partners entered into detail on how the SA8000 instrument and CSR in general are applied in Tuscan companies. Participants gain concrete understanding on what this type of certification means and had the chance to ask questions to company and certification body representatives to understand the strengths, weaknesses, results and costs of this approach.

The companies represented were:

During the visit the Game of the Goose was demonstrated. The game allows players to think about and discuss topics related to CSR, child labour, globalisation, renewable energy, cultural heritage and sustainable development, while having fun. The game was developed by the students of ISIS Vasari di Figline Valdarno, a Tuscan secondary school.


Lower Austria - Innovation Assistant/TIP Coaching - 4^th - 6^th May 2009

Innovation Assistant Study Visit

The Innovation Assistant study visit was held at the Danube University Krems.

Participants were provided with an overview of the University of Krem, a University of Continuing education, by Peter Parycek, an overview of the accompanying training courses for the NÖ Innovation Assistants from Christine Richter, and two case studies from innovation assistants:

On Day 2, at Kaba GmbH, Herzogenburg, Ulrich-Bremi-Strasse 2, the Innovation Assistant perspective of the project was demonstrated by presenting the experiences of different participant companies:

TIP Coaching Study Visit

A study visit on the TIP Coaching scheme was organised by NOE and WKÖ the 6th May 2009 in the frame of the ERIK ACTION project meeting.

This study visit on the WKNÖ premises was preceded the 5th May by a meeting with three entrepreneurs who have been beneficiary of the TIP's support (KABA GmbH), SBI Produktion techn. Anlagen GmbH, WimTec Elektronische Steurerungs - und Messgeräte GesmbH.

The 6^th of May, 13 ERIK ACTION partners interested in the good practice were welcomed at the WKÖ premises in St. Pölten by the Director, Dr Franz Wiedersich. Participants were then provided with a presentation from Dr. Raimund Mitterbauer, general manager of the TIP organisation and round tables on the following topics linked to the TIP scheme: central and regional TIP services; selecting potential innovators; organising funded consulting.

Andalusia - heliceNet / Campus & Technology Events - 20^th January 2010

heliceNet Study Visit

During this visit, ERIK ACTION Partners visited Aerópolis, Andalusia's aeronautical technological park. The park represents a cluster of different companies from the aeronautical sector, and is the home of the heliceNet Project. HeliceNet integrates CRM (Customer Relations Manager) and ERP (Enterprise Resources Planning), in order to achieve a full-scale integration of the order, storage and process workflow of the park.

Presentations were given on the orgins of the park and the aeronautical sector in Andalusia and the technical platform forming the basis of heliceNet.